Preconceptions can limit our ability to understand reality and limit creativity. A recent story on US National Public Radio about doodling at the famed Davos World Economic Forum illustrates my point. It seems that a few years ago then-British Prime Minister Tony Blair appeared on a panel with Bill Gates, former President Bill Clinton, and rock star Bono. After the panel concluded, a wandering journalist found papers covered with doodles of circles, triangles, boxes, and arrows around Tony Blair’s seat.
A graphologist was consulted and stated in British newspapers that the prime minister was clearly “struggling to maintain control in a confusing world” and “was not rooted.” Even more devastating, Blair was deemed to be “not a natural leader, but more of a spiritual person, like a vicar.” Other graphologists agreed.
No. 10 Downing Street investigated the politically loaded charges and announced that, in fact, Tony Blair was not the doodler. The papers had been left at his seat by Bill Gates—computer programmer, businessman, and one of the wealthiest people in the world.
Observe what is
In this issue, our own wandering journalists again overcome the preconceptions about what can be achieved by using OEM components in machine-vision and image-processing systems. Unlike journalists that rely on pseudoscientific evidence such as graphology, however, our writers strive to maintain a more scientific approach in their work.
In our cover story on the use of vision in aerospace manufacturing, for example, contributing editor Charlie Masi describes how system integrator Delta Sigma is working with Lockheed Martin to align and install more powerful engines on the massive C-5 Galaxy military transport aircraft. Maintaining this system integration theme, contributing editor Winn Hardin describes the growing but infrequently reported use of infrared imaging in industrial manufacturing. He shows how a GigE-based IR camera inspects drum brakes during a centrifugal casting process.
Taking on the challenge of multiprocessing, this issue also features an interview with Shuvra Bhattacharyya, professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Maryland, who describes how multiprocessors can be used in image-processing applications.
Finally, in his Product Focus article, editor Andy Wilson explores the latest developments in high-speed cameras and how data captured by them can be effectively analyzed. Other articles by Andy look at an x-ray weld-inspection system, a system for spotting defects in solar cells, a novel design for LED line lights, and the arrival of neural-network-based cameras.
Perhaps after reading these articles, you will feel inspired to forget your preconceptions of what can be accomplished with machine vision and creatively doodle your next idea.
W. Conard Holton, Editor in Chief
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